The Entertainment Industry in Turmoil: Young Actresses All Want to Rise to the Top

When I arrived at the film set, it was not yet eight o'clock, and not all the staff had arrived yet.

Tian Xiwei led Li Yitong through the corridor, pushed open the door to the lounge, threw her bag onto the sofa, and sank into it. She closed her eyes and let out a long breath.

Li Yitong sat down next to her, glanced at the call sheet on her phone, then looked up at her, "I see on your call sheet that you don't have a scene until after nine o'clock."

She put her phone away, a hint of confusion in her voice, "Why are you here so early today?"

Tian Xiwei closed her eyes, her tone languid, as if she was about to fall asleep, "Take a look at the script, or if you really can't, take a nap."

She changed her position, curling herself up into a ball and resting her head on the sofa armrest.

"Anyway, I won't leave you alone in the hotel. Who knows if he'll come looking for you? You just sold me out."

Li Yitong shook her head speechlessly, then patted her on the shoulder. "Is that how you perceive me—so untrustworthy?"

Tian Xi opened one eye slightly, glanced at her sideways, and slowly curved the corners of her mouth into a sly smile.

"As for other things, Sister Tong is definitely the best."

Then she closed her eyes again, speaking slowly, "But when it comes to this guy, it's hard to say."

She paused, the corners of her mouth curving into a deeper smile. "Besides, who knows if you'll cause trouble in my hotel?"

Li Yitong suddenly sat up straight, her pupils dilating.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Her voice rose a octave, "Don't talk nonsense! What nonsense? Do you think I'm that kind of person?"

Tian Xi opened her eyes slightly, looked at her reaction, chuckled, and the curve of her lips turned into a meaningful smile.

You two actually got tricked into revealing yourselves. You're quite the tricksters!

The meaning in that expression was too obvious, and Li Yitong reacted instantly, her face turning red from her cheeks all the way to her ears.

She opened her mouth, wanting to explain something, but when she met Tian Xiwei's bright eyes, she couldn't say anything and could only turn her head away, her face flushed.

Tian Xiwei looked at her, chuckled softly, leaned back in her chair, and didn't ask any more questions.

The lounge quieted down, and as time passed, Bai Lu, Li Lin, and the makeup team members entered one after another.

"Ode to Joy" is a modern drama, so there's no need to go to a special beauty salon for makeup and styling like when filming period dramas in Hengdian. You can just do your makeup in the dressing room. The makeup artists skillfully open their boxes and spread out their tools.

Tian Xiwei sat down in front of the vanity mirror, looked at her face in the mirror, and couldn't help but pout.

She looked left and right, then pinched her cheek, her brows furrowing.

"Sister Tong, why didn't you ever make sure I lost weight before?"

Her tone carried a hint of grievance, "Look how chubby my face is."

Before Li Yitong could speak, Bai Lu spoke first. She sat in front of the makeup mirror next to her, and her voice drifted over from the other side of the mirror, carrying a hint of disdain.

"Whose fault is it that you're so greedy?"

Without even turning her head, Tian Xiwei retorted, "Bai Mengyan, you haven't lost much weight either."

Bai Lu paused, turned around and glared at her, her cheeks puffed out. "You brat, don't make me slap you first thing in the morning!"

Tian Xiwei looked at her flustered appearance in the mirror, raised an eyebrow, and a mischievous smile appeared on her lips.

This little Mengyan is quite fun.

How come I never noticed before that she was so easily provoked? She's like a little firecracker, ready to explode at the slightest touch.

Li Lin sat next to Li Yitong, turned to look at her with a questioning look in her eyes.

Li Yitong shook her head slightly and leaned closer. "Shen Mo offended him before. Yesterday she had a nightmare that her brother Mo abandoned her in the dream, and now she's plotting something bad."

She couldn't explain any past life entanglements, so she could only simplify it. Although the reason was far-fetched, it was at least plausible.

Li Qin looked at her with a mixture of belief and doubt, his gaze lingering on her face for several seconds.

But with Li Yitong's affectionate eyes, which seemed to look at even dogs with deep affection, smiling at her, she really couldn't find any flaws.

But Li Qin still felt something was wrong. She didn't ask any further questions, just hummed in agreement, and then sat down in front of the makeup mirror, letting the makeup artist begin.

Around 9:30, the girls finished their makeup, the makeup artists packed up their tools and left, leaving only the girls in the dressing room.

Bai Lu nestled on the sofa, reading the script, muttering to herself, her fingers tracing lines on the pages. Li Qin leaned against her, quietly scrolling through his phone, occasionally glancing out the window.

Tian Xiwei sat in front of the makeup mirror, holding a script in her hand, but didn't turn a single page for a long time.

He was waiting, waiting for Shen Mo to come and give her an explanation.

-----------------

Shen Mo arrived at the company early, intending to finish his work quickly and then head to the set of "Ode to Joy".

However, Rebecca informed him that Wang Ning, the founder of Paopao Mart, had made an appointment to visit him today a week ago, and that Wang Ning was already waiting in the reception room.

Left with no other option, she sent Li Yitong a message saying that she would be late.

It's not that I don't want to send a message to Tian Xiwei, it's just that her attitude yesterday made it impossible for her to communicate, let alone send a message.

"The founder of Paopao Mart is visiting you, Brother Mo. He probably won't be able to come this morning."

When Li Yitong saw the news, she immediately relayed it to Tian Xiwei.

Tian Xiwei naturally knew about Paopao Mart, a very popular trendy brand with a future market value of hundreds of billions.

She knew what was important and what wasn't urgent, and it was understandable that Shen Mo couldn't come right now, but she still felt uncomfortable.

I'm willing to give you a chance, but it seems like fate doesn't want to!

However, I'm willing to give you another chance. If you don't come to me, then I'll come to you.

There weren't many scenes to film in the morning, and Tian Xiwei's filming ended around 11:30. She then took Li Yitong's hand and headed to the company.

At Mohen Company, Shen Mo had just seen Wang Ning off.

The reason for their visit was simple: firstly, to express their gratitude for Mohen's strategic investment in Paopao Mart and for facilitating post-investment connections.

On the other hand, they also hope to acquire the IP rights of Mohen and turn various film and television characters and artists into blind box character IPs.

Shen Mo sat in his office, putting the finishing touches on his morning's work.

At the same time, someone walked to the door of Shen Mo's office.

Dilraba had just finished filming these episodes of "Go Fighting!" and came to Yang Tianzhen today to talk about post-production work. Hearing that Shen Mo was in the office, she decided to go upstairs to check on him.

After all, it had been a long time since they last saw each other, and she missed them quite a bit.

Although there was no confession to clarify their relationship, the hug Shen Mofei gave her when he went to her hometown to comfort her last time made her feel that their relationship had taken a step closer.

The feeling of leaning against his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat, the warmth of his hands—all of these things she missed dearly.

From then on, she often thought of that scene and his scent.

In short, I miss him.

As she pushed open the door, Dilraba saw Shen Mo sitting behind his desk, elbows propped on the table, rubbing his temples with both hands.

She subconsciously slowed her pace.

Shen Mo looked very tired, his brows were furrowed, the dark circles under his eyes were even deeper, and his lips were a little dry.

She suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

Dilraba walked over quietly, went around to the back of Shen Mo's chair, and placed her fingertips on his temples, slowly massaging them.

Shen Mo's body stiffened slightly, and before he could even look up, he heard a familiar voice.

"Is Brother Mo very tired?"

It was Dilraba. Shen Mo's stiff shoulders instantly relaxed, and he simply closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.

"Why are you here?"

"I've come to see you." Dilraba spoke softly, her fingertips warm, her touch just right.

"Are you very tired lately?"

"It's alright," Shen Mo said. "No major problems."

"I heard that the ratings for 'Go Fighting!' are pretty good, and netizens seem to be quite satisfied with your performance."

"Hmm." Dilraba's voice was soft, with a hint of a smile. "Director Yan said that if nothing unexpected happens, the second season can be put on the agenda, and he told us all to make time."

The two chatted like that, one enjoying a massage with her eyes closed, the other standing behind her whispering softly, the scene quiet and warm.

When Tian Xiwei pushed the door open and came in, she was carrying a takeout bag in her hand.

On their way here, she and Li Yitong passed by the private restaurant that Shen Mo often ate at. Li Yitong guessed, "He must not have eaten again." Although Tian Xiwei said, "What does it have to do with me?" she still obediently pushed open the door of the restaurant.

She ordered several of Shen Mo's favorite dishes. Li Yitong stood beside her, watching her recite the menu, and couldn't help but smile.

The bag was a bit heavy, and Tian Xiwei switched hands several times, leaving red marks on her knuckles from the plastic bag.

She planned to put the takeout on his table later, say "I bought it on my way," and then sit down to start talking.

She spoke calmly, rationally, and without temper, and then she agreed to Li Yitong's request.

So when she pushed open the door, there was even a prepared smile on her lips.

However, in the office.

Shen Mo leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed. Dilraba stood behind him, her hands on his temples. The two were very close, so close that Dilraba's breath almost brushed against the top of his head.

Shen Mo looked relaxed, with a faint smile on his lips, seemingly enjoying himself.

Tian Xiwei's hand, which was gripping the plastic bag, suddenly tightened, her knuckles turning white, and the plastic bag made a slight rustling sound.

The smile she had prepared was still on her lips, but it had frozen.

For a moment, my mind went blank.

It was as if someone had pressed the pause button in her mind, and all the images froze.

Her already pent-up frustration exploded at that moment, like ignited gunpowder, bursting from her chest, burning her throat, and then her eyes.

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

I'm thinking of you, I'm giving you a chance, I'm holding back my temper and waiting for you to explain, but you're here flirting with another woman.

I brought you takeout, but you're here enjoying someone else's kindness.

With a wave of his hand.

“Pah!”

The takeout bag flew out of her hand and hit the floor.

The noise was so loud that people in the next office peeked out, but Li Yitong, who was right behind Tian Xiwei, stopped them with a glance and then closed and locked the office door.

She turned to look at Shen Mo, her crescent-shaped eyes filled with confusion and a hint of disappointment.

She had promised Tian Xiwei that she would stand by her side, but she never expected that the first situation where she would need to step forward would be like this.

Shen Mo's eyes snapped open from their relaxed state. His pupils weren't fully focused yet, but the figure at the doorway instantly turned his expression from relaxation to astonishment. He sprang up from his chair, which creaked loudly.

Dilraba's hand stopped in mid-air, still in the kneading posture, her fingertips slightly curled, as if frozen in time.

She saw that Tian Xiwei's eyes were completely red, her lips were pressed into a thin line, her chest was still heaving violently, and her gaze was fixed on Shen Mo, as if she wanted to devour him.

"Shen Mo!"

Two words were squeezed out from between her teeth. Tian Xi's low, trembling, and angry voice exploded in the quiet office.

Dilraba slowly withdrew her hand, her fingers curling into her palm and tucking it to her side. A look of bewilderment flashed across her face, followed by surprise and guilt.

Do I need to explain this?

But nothing really happened. I just saw that Brother Mo was too tired and massaged his temples.

Xiaotian might have misunderstood something, but even if she did, shouldn't it be Sister Tong who should be blamed?

She glanced at Li Yitong next to Tian Xiwei, and her brows furrowed slightly.

He stepped forward, reaching out to pull Tian Xiwei along, "Tian'er—"

Tian Xiwei didn't even glance at her, and immediately withdrew her hand to avoid it. Her movements were so fast that Dilireba's fingers only touched her sleeve before being flung away.

Dilraba's hand hung in mid-air, unable to retract or extend, and she froze on the spot.

Her gaze remained fixed on Shen Mo. "Give me an explanation."

Dilraba stood to the side, glancing at Tian Xiwei, then at Shen Mo, and then at Li Yitong behind Tian Xiwei, her eyes filled with confusion and pleading.

"Sister Tong, I..."

Li Yitong frowned, her gaze shifting from Shen Mo to Dilraba's face, and then she reached out and grabbed Dilraba's wrist.

"Come with me."

Dilraba was pulled along by her, her steps a little unsteady. She looked back at Shen Mo, then at Tian Xiwei, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but Li Yitong had already opened the door and led her out.

The door was closed again, leaving only two people in the office.

Shen Mo stood behind the desk, the chair still tilted to one side. His hands were on the table, his fingertips were white, and his knuckles were taut.

Shen Mo's Adam's apple bobbed. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but when he met those bloodshot eyes burning with anger, all the words stuck in his throat.

He looked at the still-steaming takeout on the ground. The logo on the bag was from a restaurant he often ordered from when he was at the company, and the dishes were the same ones he often ate.

But now, they're all on the ground.

Tian Xiwei looked at the mess and the corners of her mouth suddenly curved up. She was glad that she had carried the bag herself and switched hands several times, even though her fingers were bled red, but she never thought of asking Sister Tong for help.

She recalled that before pushing open the door, she was rehearsing in her mind the first thing she would say: "I bought it on the way, don't overthink it."

Hehe, no need to say anything now.

She raised her head and looked at Shen Mo again, her eyes still red, but her tone was extremely cold.

"Speak."

Shen Mo took a deep breath, walked over, and reached out to grab Tian Xiwei's wrist. She didn't pull away, but just stared at him intently, her lips pressed together until they turned white.

He pulled her to sit down on the guest sofa. The two of them were very close, but it felt like there was a wall between them.

"At the very beginning, when Yitong and I came back together—"

His voice was low and slow, as if he were telling a story from a very long time ago.

"I am really worried about how sad you would be if you were left alone in that world."

"But I can't change it, and I know clearly that I can't go back."

He paused, his fingers still holding her wrist, and he could feel her stiffness.

"Until I confirmed it, Yitong was reborn along with me."

"Over the long term, including past and present lives, decades of companionship, no matter how hard-hearted I am, I can never ignore her contributions."

"Moreover, at that time, she was the only person in the world with whom I could share all my secrets."

He glanced at Tian Xiwei, but her expression didn't change much.

"So, we came together."

At this point, Shen Mo realized that even though he had been holding her hand for so long, she hadn't objected, pulled away, or shaken off him.

He tentatively moved his fingers, enveloping her hand entirely in his palm.

"But I can never forget you, no matter what."

He moved a little closer to her, shoulder to shoulder.

"That's why I flew to Chongqing and met you."

He slowly reached out, put his arm around her shoulder, and gently pulled her against his chest.

Tian Xiwei's body stiffened for a moment, but she didn't push him away.

"But you were too young back then, and I thought I would end it there. But I didn't expect you to come to the capital on your own initiative."

"The moment I saw you again, I thought to myself, maybe this is fate."

Shen Mo's heart was pounding right next to her ear, much faster than usual.

Fortunately, Yitong didn't object at the time. She even took the initiative to suggest creating a trainee program for you, keeping you by her side to take care of and train you.

He felt her fingers tighten slightly.

"I've never known how to handle the relationship between the three of us, and the thought that's always been in my mind is, let's see how it goes in the future."

Tian Xi leaned against his chest, listening quietly. When he finished speaking, she slowly opened up and sat up from his embrace.

She turned to look at him, her eyes still churning with emotion. "And what about today? I'm waiting for your explanation, while you're enjoying the tenderness."

"Has my importance in your heart fallen to such a low level?"

She stared straight at him, her gaze like a sharp knife piercing the very topic he had been trying to avoid.

"You know what I mean by the key point of my explanation."

"And what about them?"

Shen Mo remained silent for a long time.

How old was Bai Lu when she was picked up from Seoul? Seventeen.

A woman was in a foreign land, eliminated from her job, squatting on the street and crying at her door. He brought her back, and she followed him cautiously like an abandoned puppy, afraid of being abandoned again.

She became his assistant, bought him breakfast, and stayed with him until late at night while he worked overtime.

She said, "I'm the one you picked up, you can't abandon me."

Li Qin was aloof and indifferent, never vying for anything and wanting nothing.

She said she didn't ask for a long time, only for the present. When she leaned against his chest in the prop room and said "I miss you," her voice was trembling.

Meng Ziyi kept saying "Shen Mo is a scumbag," but she still clung to his arm and refused to let go.

Dilraba, the girl who was standing behind him giving him a massage earlier, didn't say anything, but the look in her eyes when she looked at him was unmistakable.

Shen Mo closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.

"If it was just a fling in a past life, you don't need to worry at all."

He opened his eyes and looked at Tian Xiwei, "But their feelings for each other over such a long time in this life—"

He paused for a long time, but ultimately avoided Tian Xiwei's burning gaze. "I...cannot refuse."

The office fell silent instantly. Tian Xi looked at him and suddenly smiled.

Her smile was very faint, so faint that it was almost invisible; the corners of her mouth only curved slightly, and no dimples were visible.

"What an irresistible statement." Her voice was very soft, as soft as a feather falling on the water.

"Since I can't refuse them—"

She paused, shifting her gaze from his face to the sky outside the window. "Then just reject me."

Shen Mo's pupils contracted instantly.

Tian Xiwei forcefully pulled her hand away from his, stood up, and took a step back. "What you said makes a lot of sense."

Her voice trembled slightly, but she smiled. "But I won't accept it."

She took a deep breath and swallowed back the sour feeling that rose to her throat.

"I think it would be better for us to separate."

She paused, the curve of her lips deepening slightly, but there was no warmth in that smile.

"Oh, right—" she tilted her head, her tone light and airy, "It seems like we've never been together in this lifetime."

She looked at him, her gaze as calm as a stagnant pool.

"That's even better!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around, pushed open the door, and walked out.

The action was performed in one smooth motion, without hesitation or looking back.

The moment the door closed behind me, a blast of cool air from the corridor rushed in.

Tian Xiwei stood at the door, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

That breath, carrying all the anger, grievances, and bitterness from the office, condensed into a cloud of white mist under the corridor lights.

Her chest was still heaving violently, but her breathing had gradually calmed down.

She held back her tears, gritting her teeth to suppress the surging emotions little by little.

Then he blinked hard, pushing away the blurry vision, raised his chin, and strode forward.

The shoes clattered on the floor tiles with such a rapid rhythm that they almost formed a continuous line.

When she reached the elevator, her fingers paused on the button for a moment, her fingertips trembling slightly.

She pulled her hand back, clenched it into a fist, and dug her nails into her palm, trying to suppress the trembling with pain.

The elevator arrived, and she was the only one inside. The bright lights shone on her face.

The moment the door closed, she finally leaned against the elevator wall, the cold metal plate seeping into her clothes.

She closed her eyes, tilted her head back, slightly raised her chin, and her neck was taut.

Tears streamed down my face without me even realizing it.

The elevator arrived at the first floor and made a soft "ding" sound.

She opened her eyes, quickly raised her hand to wipe her cheek, and then rubbed her eye sockets to wipe away the remaining traces.

I glanced at myself on the mirrored wall of the elevator. My eyes were a little red, but you probably couldn't tell unless you looked closely.

Tian Xi took a deep breath, curved the corners of her mouth upwards into a seemingly normal arc, and walked out.

In the office, Li Yitong and Dilraba sat on the sofa, looking at each other in silence.

Dilraba sat in a corner of the sofa with her hands on her knees. She always felt unconsciously guilty in front of Li Yitong, and her fingers were twisted together at this moment.

She would glance at the doorway every now and then, then quickly look down again.

She didn't know what was wrong with Tian Xiwei. Perhaps she shouldn't have come today, and shouldn't have given Shen Mo a massage.

But she just...

She just wanted to help him relax; he looked so tired.

Footsteps sounded at the door, quick and hurried, thump-thump-thump, and then disappeared.

Dilraba looked up and saw a figure rush past the doorway, so fast that she didn't even have time to call out.

"Sister Tong, Tian'er..." Her voice was soft, with a hint of doubt.

Li Yitong withdrew her gaze and glanced at Dilraba.

Li Yitong knew Dilraba's personality; she wasn't the type to actively seek trouble, she was too gentle.

She also knew that Dilraba and Shen Mo hadn't made any real progress. After all, Shen Mo didn't hide anything from her. Even though she could see the subtle ambiguity between them and the feelings hidden in their eyes, it was never explicitly stated.

But the scene she witnessed today was a thorn in Tian Xiwei's side, who had just regained her memories.

Li Yitong sighed softly and reached out to pat Dilraba's shoulder.

"fine."

"You go find Tianzhen first, I'll go check on her."

Dilraba looked up at Li Yitong, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just nodded.

Li Yitong picked up the scattered lunch boxes, carried the stack of broken lunch boxes to Shen Mo's desk, and slammed them down on the table.

"Shen Mo".

Shen Mo sat in the chair with a complicated expression. He looked at Li Yitong, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but Li Yitong didn't give him the chance.

"What exactly are you thinking?"

She pulled out a tissue to wipe her hands, then threw the tissue into the trash can.

"Have you been flattered so much that you've forgotten how to comfort someone?"

Her crescent-shaped eyes were not curved; they were filled with disappointment.

She knew Shen Mo had someone else in his life, but she accepted it and stopped caring.

But Tian Xiwei was different. As soon as she returned, she saw Dilraba standing behind him giving him a massage.

Li Yitong took a deep breath, her voice trembling with heartache.

"Do you know that when Tian'er heard the news, she fell down the stairs while running and hit the wall?"

Shen Mo's pupils contracted slightly.

"Yes, Tian'er is healthy now, lively and energetic, she can eat and sleep well and even argue with you."

She clenched her fist and slammed it on the table, making a "thud" sound.

"But the pain she suffered at that time was real."

"The feeling of rolling down the stairs, the feeling of the back of your head hitting the wall, is real."

She paused, as if something was stuck in her throat. She swallowed hard and continued speaking.

"That despair was real."

Her voice began to tremble, but she didn't stop.

"She had a pain response when I touched her arm last night. You know what?"

She looked at Shen Mo, her eyes reddening.

"Just think about it yourself, how much suffering she has endured."

Shen Mo's fingers slid off the table, like someone whose strength had been drained.

His eyes reddened, his Adam's apple bobbed several times, and his lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

He remembered Tian Xiwei standing at the door just now; she didn't cry in front of him.

It's not that she doesn't want to cry, but crying means showing weakness, showing weakness means caring, and caring means she has lost.

She didn't want to lose.

She had already lost miserably in two lifetimes of relationships, and she didn't want to lose again.

Li Yitong looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, then turned and walked towards the door. When she reached the door, she paused, her hand on the doorknob, but she didn't turn it.

She turned around, glanced at him with a complicated look in her eyes, and opened her mouth, speaking very softly.

"She brought you groceries today, but I wasn't allowed to touch them even once."

"I offered to help her get it, but she wouldn't give it to me."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Her fingers are all red from being squeezed. Did you see them? There are red marks all over her knuckles."

She sighed, turned the doorknob, pushed the door open, and went out.

Shen Mo slowly sat up straight, tore open the plastic bag, and opened the lunch boxes one by one. The lunch boxes were all cracked, and the food was mixed together.

He picked up a piece of meat and chewed for a long time, but he couldn't swallow it. A sour and astringent feeling filled his entire throat.

After a long time, the piece of meat was finally swallowed, but the sourness didn't go down with it.

It's stuck in my throat, stuck in my chest, getting bigger and bigger, and getting more and more uncomfortable.

A tear silently slid down his cheek.

He put his chopsticks on the table, picked up his phone, and opened the chat window with Tian Xiwei.

The last message was an emoji she posted a few days ago, a selfie of her radiant smile.

He stared at the emoji for a long time before clicking on the input box.

He typed a few words: "I'm sorry, I—"

It was deleted again.

He typed again: "Tian'er, let's talk—"

It was deleted again.

He typed again: "I know you—"

He hovered his finger above the screen for a long time before finally locking the phone and placing it on the table.

-----------------

The first month of school was military training, but Tian Xiwei took leave to film a movie and did not participate.

Now that it's October, the second month of the new school year, she still goes to the Beijing Film Academy to attend a few classes when she's not filming.

After leaving Shen Mo's office, she had nothing to do in the afternoon, so she went to school to catch up on two classes.

Before get out of class was over, Wang Churan and Liu Haocun blocked her at the school classroom door.

"What's wrong? They've all come to block my classroom door." After an afternoon of classes, Tian Xiwei had finally composed herself.

"Tian'er, have you been very tired lately?" Liu Haocun asked with concern.

"It's alright, but it's a bit of a hassle to travel back and forth between the two places."

Wang Churan looked into Tian Xiwei's eyes, pondered for a moment, and then went straight to the point, "Tian'er, did you and Brother Mo have a fight?"

Tian Xi smiled slightly, pursing her lips. "How did you know?"

Wang Churan shrugged. "Sister Mengyan said you were being sarcastic to Brother Mo yesterday, and today Sister Reba asked us if you and Brother Mo had a conflict."

"We didn't argue." Tian Xiwei led the two of them strolling around the Beijing Film Academy. "It's just..."

She suddenly stopped and turned to look at Wang Churan and Liu Haocun, her serious gaze startling them both.

"Do you guys know that your Mo-ge is a scumbag?"

The air suddenly fell silent. Wang Churan and Liu Haocun exchanged a glance and both frowned.

Tian Xiwei continued walking, speaking calmly, "Do you know if he has anyone else besides Sister Tong?"

Wang Churan stared at Tian Xiwei for a few seconds, his tone tinged with confusion, "So that's why you weren't giving Brother Mo a friendly look?"

Tian Xiwei didn't answer, she just looked at her. Wang Churan felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze and looked away.

Liu Hao spoke softly from the side, "Does it matter whether Brother Mo is a scumbag or not?"

Tian Xi turned her head to look at her, while Liu Haocun lowered his head, looking at the toes of his feet as he stepped forward.

"Shouldn't this be Tong-jie's business? Besides, Mo-ge didn't treat us badly, did he?"

Her voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost inaudible, "Besides..."

She didn't continue.

But Tian Xi understood what she wanted to say in a second.

She wanted to say: Even if Shen Mo treats her badly, she's still willing.

This Brother Mo, who nurtured her, cared for her, helped her solve her family's big troubles, and had already thought of all the solutions for her before public opinion turned against her.

Moreover, Shen Mo is so famous, has so much capital, and is so handsome.

Instead, she complained that she was too young and growing up too slowly.

Tian Xiwei was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Wang Churan, "And what about you?"

Wang Churan was taken aback by her question, and snorted lightly, saying, "I'm just an artist, not her girlfriend, so I can't control that."

Her chin was slightly raised, and there was a hint of disdain on the corner of her mouth, but the tips of her ears had already turned red.

Tian Xiwei shook her head as she looked at her stubborn expression.

-----------------

When Li Yitong arrived at Tian Xiwei Hotel that evening, Tian Xiwei had already taken a shower and was lying in bed.

Li Yitong glanced at Tian Xiwei's condition and, seeing nothing unusual, went directly to the bathroom to wash up.

After finishing, I went to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. "I'm exhausted!"

Tian Xi moved slightly to the side to make room for her, "Then you lie down, I'll give you a massage."

Li Yitong rolled over and lay down next to her, letting Tian Xiwei's fingers knead her shoulders.

She closed her eyes with satisfaction, mumbling, "Tian'er, your technique is getting better and better!"

Tian Xi snorted smugly, "Of course, I'm a professional."

Shen Mo used to work overtime until very late before going home. Seeing how tired he looked, she specially sought out a master to learn relaxation massage.

As she massaged her, Tian Xiwei lifted up the back of her pajamas, saying, "You're in the way."

"Sister Tong's back is still the best; it's so smooth and feels so comfortable to massage."

"It's much softer than Shen Mo's bulky body. He doesn't work out much, I don't know where he got so much muscle."

Li Yitong squinted and smiled, "How do you maintain that?" It's something I've practiced. I've carried myself to and from school almost every day since elementary school.

I really miss the days when I was tired from dancing and someone would carry me home. It's just that jerk who always complained about how I was covered in sweat after dancing all day.

It's something I've practiced. I've carried myself to and from school almost every day since elementary school.

I really miss the days when I was tired from dancing and someone would carry me home. It's just that jerk who always complained about how I was covered in sweat after dancing all day.

He carried it for outsiders, and there are countless people lining up for it, yet he still complained.

"What's wrong? Why are you laughing so happily? Are you thinking about your special day again?"

Tian Xiwei reached out and teased Li Yitong's slightly parted lips, making Li Yitong roll her eyes at her.

"Didn't you yell at him in his office today? Why are you acting like nothing happened when you mention him now?"

Tian Xi pursed her lips slightly. "Why be sad over a scumbag?"

"Anyway, the scumbag's wife is in my hands. I've been wronged, so I'll just take my revenge on his wife."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Li Yitong reached out and slapped her. "You can talk, but don't get physical."

Tian Xi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh, Xue~ you've misunderstood me! How can I give you a massage without touching you?"

Li Yitong turned her head and glared at her.

Tian Xi leaned closer to her, her mouth close to her ear, and whispered, "Doesn't your husband like this? Hasn't he ever given you a massage?"

Her breath, you brat, don't you have your own?

Tian Xi chuckled.

"You're asking for it!"

As she spoke, Li Yitong tried to get up, but Tian Xiwei anticipated this and pounced on her, hanging on her back like a koala.

"Hey! Tian Xiwei, how come you've gotten stronger again?!"

Tian Xiwei's head nestled in the crook of Li Yitong's neck, their two little faces pressed together, making Li Yitong feel ticklish.

"You're allowed to be enhanced, but I can't!"

As Tian Xiwei spoke, she opened her mouth and bit her cheek hard.

"I knew I couldn't beat you before. Even though I'm younger, you've always been a weakling. How come you're so strong?"

"Now I understand, so you two got enhanced, right! Now I have it too, the situation has reversed, and you can only be bullied by me again."

"Hahaha, Li Xue! Just give in to me!"

Tian Xiwei's strange laughter, coupled with her nudging, rubbing, and pinching movements, made Li Yitong laugh out loud as well.

Li Yitong, unable to bear Tian Xiwei's playful thrusting, grabbed her and tried to roll over forcefully. "Alright, alright, that's enough! If you keep thrusting, I'll throw you off!"

Tian Xiwei ignored her and continued to nudge, muttering, "Go ahead and throw it, go ahead and throw it! If you can't get me down, I'll pry you to death tonight!"

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Tian Xiwei!"

"What are you yelling for?! I'm going to get revenge on that scumbag! Just admit it! Who told you to be his wife?!"

As they talked, the two of them rolled around from one end of the bed to the other, until the sheets were all crumpled up.

Laughter echoed in the hotel room, crisp and clear, exactly the same as it had been in their previous life.

Exhausted from playing around, the two lay side by side on the bed, staring at the ceiling and panting.

Their breathing mingled together, slowly changing from rapid to even.

"Sister Tong, wouldn't it be great if things could always stay the same as before?"

Tian Xiwei's voice was very soft, and her fingers slowly drew circles on the quilt.

Li Yitong turned her head to look at her. Tian Xiwei's profile looked very soft in the dim light, with a straight nose and slightly parted lips. A slight smile played on his lips, but there was a thin layer of something in his eyes, like mist, making it impossible to see through.

"Although it's not nice to say this, your sister Tong is doing fine now."

Li Yitong reached out and hugged her, resting her head on Tian Xiwei's shoulder.

"If we hadn't gone through this all over again, some misunderstandings between us might never have been resolved."

Tian Xiwei was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Yes, you two would both be better if you did it all over again."

"Me? I'm all alone now."

She turned over and faced Li Yitong, their foreheads touching. The two were so close that they could see the curve of each other's eyelashes.

"You're not alone, and I won't leave you alone, nor will he."

Tian Xi chuckled softly, "He's nothing to me."

"Can you convince yourself to break up with him?" Li Yitong reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Do you really hate him?"

"To say I hate you wouldn't be accurate."

Tian Xiwei's voice was very soft, "Whether in my past life or this life, I appeared too late, so it's not surprising that I have the current outcome."

"In this life, he has been so good to me, giving me the best care and resources, and celebrating every birthday with me."

I have no right to hate him.

"Saying I forgive you feels stifling."

Her voice began to tremble slightly, so slightly that it was almost imperceptible unless you listened very carefully.

"If it were just you, I wouldn't mind, but now he's with one woman after another. If I forgive him, what would that make me?"

She took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of bitterness that welled up inside her. "Xue, how do you manage to be so indifferent?"

"To say I don't care... that would be a lie," Li Yitong said softly. "My requirements are very low, just don't show it in front of me."

Tian Xi was silent for a moment, then buried her face in Li Yitong's shoulder, smelling the perfume on Li Yitong's body, and closed her eyes.

Because each of them looked at Shen Mo differently. She might not have noticed it before because she wasn't mature enough, but now that she thinks back, there was something in each of their eyes that she had seen in the mirror—the way she used to look at Shen Mo.

Li Yitong, needless to say; Bai Lu, definitely; Li Lin, probably too; Meng Ziyi, possibly.

Dilireba was unpredictable, but Tian Xiwei, relying on her intuition, was certain that it was her.

Even if it's not like that now, it's only a matter of time.

After all, the initial spark that ignited the conflict between Shen Mo and Hua Yi was her.

Shen Mo went to war with Huayi for her sake, which couldn't be considered insignificant in Dilraba's heart.

As for Wang Churan and Liu Haocun.

They're too young, one is sixteen and the other is seventeen, which is the age when they're most likely to idolize someone.

The way they looked at Shen Mo contained admiration, dependence, gratitude, and a hint of vague affection.

As for reaching the level of love, it's probably not yet. Most likely, like myself in this life, I'm still in the stage of having feelings for someone.

But feelings of affection can develop over time.

Like a jar of wine sealed in a bottle, you think it won't change, but when the time comes, you open it and the aroma of the wine is irresistible, and you don't even know when it changed.

The more I think about it, the more upset I get. How come this guy has so many women around him?!

bother!

Tian Xiwei nudged her head indignantly, making Li Yitong, who had just fallen asleep, frown.

She mentally went over these names again and again, chewing them until they tasted both sour and bitter.

She wasn't just annoyed that Shen Mo had other people in his life.

She was even more annoyed that she knew all this, and that she had said goodbye, yet she still couldn't let go.

I'm annoyed that even though I should be angry, I still think of his good qualities when the night is quiet.

It's annoying that even though I don't want to deal with it, I can't help but pick these people out one by one, analyze and judge them, just like an accountant taking inventory.

Most importantly, she couldn't yet assert her status as the official wife like Li Yitong did.

She couldn't tell them that in her past life she was Shen Mo's fiancée, and that Li Yitong was her defeated opponent, and that none of them were allowed to compete with her for him.

A perfectly respectable fiancée wakes up to find herself with a foot, only to be seen by outsiders as a temperamental and difficult person.

This is even more annoying!

The sound of Li Yitong's even breathing could be heard from the side.

She was already asleep, sleeping soundly, her brows relaxed, her lips slightly parted, like an adorable little child.

Tian Xi looked at her, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.

She remembered her past life; she was with Shen Mo because of her, and the first time she argued with Shen Mo was also because of her.

But every time they argued after that, she would subconsciously look for her.

She never found it annoying, never blamed herself, and never even tried to sow discord.

She simply sat quietly to the side, waiting for Tian Xiwei to finish crying, cursing, and making a scene before she spoke, saying, "Are you hungry? I'll take you to get something to eat."

It's very simple, but it works just so well for her, Tian Xiwei.

Shen Mo can be stubborn at times, the kind of person you can't persuade, but Li Yitong's words are very effective.

Sometimes she even wondered if they were a better match, but she couldn't bear to part with Mo Ge, the man she loved.

Thinking about it again, Li Yitong's gentle and good-natured nature makes her a good match for anyone, and even Tian Xiwei herself enjoys being with Li Yitong.

Tian Xiwei gently touched Li Yitong's face. Li Yitong's mouth moved slightly, but she did not wake up.

Tian Xiwei gently stroked her face and slowly closed her eyes.

It was quiet outside the window, with the occasional sound of a car speeding by.

Even with her eyes closed, the names kept flashing through her mind: Bai Lu, Li Qin, Meng Ziyi, Dilireba, Wang Churan, Liu Haocun, like a revolving lantern.

She tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen and spun faster and faster, making her dizzy.

She took a deep breath and buried her face back in the pillow.

I don't want to think about it anymore, let's break up!

I still have my first love in my life!

but……

She knew that even when tomorrow came, she would still care.

Because she can't let go, because she still cares.

Because she, Tian Xiwei, is just a stubborn but soft-hearted fool.

She cursed herself in her heart, then reached out and quietly pinched Li Yitong's earlobe. It was soft and felt very comfortable to touch.

Li Yitong didn't wake up, but her fingers instinctively tightened their embrace around Tian Xiwei.

Tian Xiwei's lips curved slightly.

Oh well, let it be annoying.

At least there's Sister Tong, at least there's still someone who knows who she is, knows she's not just being childish, knows what she's struggling with and thinking about.

This person doesn't need her to explain, doesn't need her to pretend.